Robert Morley

From Vero - Wikipedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:About

Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox person

Robert Adolph Wilton Morley (26 May 1908 – 3 June 1992) was an English actor who enjoyed a lengthy career in both Britain and the United States. He was frequently cast as a pompous English gentleman representing the Establishment, often in supporting roles.<ref name=bfi>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1939 he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of King Louis XVI in Marie Antoinette.

In Movie Encyclopedia, film critic Leonard Maltin describes Morley as "recognisable by his ungainly bulk, bushy eyebrows, thick lips and double chin, ... particularly effective when cast as a pompous windbag." Ephraim Katz in his International Film Encyclopaedia describes Morley as "a rotund, triple-chinned, delightful character player of the British and American stage and screen." In his autobiography, Responsible Gentleman, Morley said his stage career started with managements valuing his appearance for playing "substantial gentleman" roles – as a doctor, lawyer, accountant or other professional member of society.

Early life

Morley was born in Semley, Wiltshire, England, the son of Gertrude Emily (née Fass) and Robert Wilton Morley, a major in the British Army.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> His mother came from a German family that had emigrated to South Africa. Morley attended Wellington College, Berkshire, which he hated, followed by RADA.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=nytimes/> As he was a famous "Old Wellingtonian", generations of headmasters tried to contact him, without success, with Morley stating "the only reason for me visiting Wellington would be to burn it down".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Career

Morley made his West End stage debut in 1929 in Treasure Island at the Strand Theatre and his Broadway debut in 1938 in the title role of Oscar Wilde at the Fulton Theatre.<ref name=nytimes>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Although soon won over to the big screen, Morley remained both a busy West End star and successful author, as well as appearing in touring productions.<ref name=nytimes/>

File:Robert Morley in Marie Antoinette trailer.jpg
Still from the trailer for Marie Antoinette (1938)

A versatile actor, especially in his younger years, he played Louis XVI in Marie Antoinette (1938), for which he received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

He co-wrote several plays for the stage. His 1937 play Goodness, How Sad was turned into an Ealing Studios film, Return to Yesterday (1940), directed by Robert Stevenson.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Later, he had outstanding success in London and New York with Edward, My Son, a gripping family drama written in 1947 in collaboration with Noel Langley.<ref name=nytimes/> Morley played the central role of Arnold Holt. Edward, My Son (1949) was made into a movie by George Cukor for MGM-British.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Morley's acting career continued with roles as a missionary in The African Queen (1951), The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan (1953), as W. S. Gilbert, and in Oscar Wilde (1960).<ref name=bfi/> In 1959 he appeared in an Alfred Hitchcock Presents adaptation of a Stanley Ellin short story entitled, 'Specialty of the House'.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Ken Annakin's Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, Morley is featured among an international ensemble cast including Stuart Whitman, Sarah Miles, Terry-Thomas, James Fox, Red Skelton, Benny Hill, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Gert Fröbe and Alberto Sordi.

Morley also personified the conservative Englishman in many comedy and caper films. He was the face of BOAC (later British Airways) as the merry television commercial spokesman of the 1970s with "We'll take good care of you" for British Airways.<ref name=allmovie/> Later in his career, he received critical acclaim and numerous accolades for his performance in Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 1980, Morley hosted and provided explanatory introductions to the 14-episode Granada Television anthology series Ladykillers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the 1980s, Morley hosted a celebrity cooking show on Cable TV, Celebrity Chefs.

He was renowned as a witty raconteur and for being an eloquent conversationalist,<ref name=allmovie>Template:Cite web</ref> as well as a noted and enthusiastic gourmet, in real life and in various roles in film and TV.<ref>McCann, Graham (28 June 2020). "The many meals of Robert Morley". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 27 September 2020.</ref>

In January 1957, Morley went into partnership with Robin Fox in a new production company called the Robin Fox Partnership Ltd, with its offices at 24, Old Burlington Street.<ref>"The Robin Fox Partnership Ltd", The Stage, Thursday 24 January 1957, p. 8</ref><ref>"MOOMIN IN MAYFAIR", Evening News (London), Saturday 01 June 1957, p. 4: "I went along to have a drink with Robert Morley and his co-partner, Robin Fox, in their new offices in Mayfair. "All frightfully high-class, dear boy" said Morley. "Wonderful decorations, marvellous champagne and the most deelicious..."</ref> Morley was honoured by being the first King of Moomba appointed by the Melbourne Moomba festival committee and, in typical humility, he accepted the crown in bare feet.<ref>Bellamy, Craig; Gordon Chisholm & Hilary Ericksen (2006). Moomba – A festival for the people. Template:Webarchive PDF pp 18 & 22.</ref><ref>"Photo of Robert Morley accepting King of Moomba crown". Melbourne Herald.Template:Dead link</ref> Morley was in Australia touring his one-man show, The Sound of Morley.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In his book British Film Character Actors, Terence Pettigrew wrote: "Morley, who has more wobbly chins than a Shanghai drinking club, enjoys poking fun at life's absurdities, among whom he generously includes himself."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1974 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews.Template:Citation needed

Personal life and honours

Robert Morley married Joan Buckmaster (1910–2005), a daughter of Dame Gladys Cooper.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Their elder son, Sheridan Morley, became a writer and critic. They also had a daughter, Annabel, and another son, Wilton.<ref name=nytimes/>

He was godfather to the eldest son of fellow actor Tom Chatto.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Morley was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1957 and was also offered a knighthood in 1975 but declined.<ref>Hope, Christopher (25 January 2012). "JB Priestley, Roald Dahl, Lucian Freud and LS Lowry among 277 people who turned down honours". The Daily Telegraph.</ref>

Morley was a member of the Labour Party and lived for decades in Wargrave, Berkshire.<ref>Roger Collier: "Robert Morley & Son", The Sydney Morning Herald, 28 February 1980, p. 16f</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Death

Morley died in Reading, England, from a stroke aged 84 on 3 June 1992.<ref name=nytimes/>

Theatre career

Template:Div col

Template:Div col end

Complete filmography

Template:Div col

Template:Div col end

Publications

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Portal Template:Commons category

Template:Distinguished Performance Award Template:Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Template:National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=Robert_Morley&oldid=204942"